Waterman Mountain

22 July 1990

By: Bobcat Thompson

A DAY WITH SAM FINK ON MT WATERMAN

On July 22, I was privileged to meet Sam Fink at Buckhorn, just starting up the trail to Mt. Waterman. With a friend, I joined Sam on this, his 60th ascent of Mt Waterman. We spent the day talking and listening to Sam's great stories of his adventures in the mountains over the past 60 years. Sam has just turned 87 years young on August 17 and gets out every Sunday, climbing Waterman a lot in the Summer months because it is cooler. This day, Sam was climbing his 3,719th lifetime peak. He has 819 different peaks to his credit, and all 67 peaks over 14,000' in California, Washington and Colorado. It's always a pleasure to hike and talk with Sam. He is planning his 100th ascent of Sunset Peak during the HPS Oktoberfest on Sunday, Oct. 7. May you enjoy many more hikes into the mountains, Sam! It keeps you young. "The time spent climbing mountains will not be deducted from the rest of your life." Sam, you're truly an inspiration to all of us.

Sam Fink sent me a copy of the first "Official" Hundred Peaks List published July 1, 1946. There are 192 peaks on this list entitled "MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OVER 5000 FEET ELEVATION" by Weldon F. Heald. An interesting note are the peaks on this list that are no longer on the Hundred Peaks List: Whiteacre Peak, Topatopa Peak, Devils Heart Peak, Cummings Mountain, Bear.